What Makes Paper Tube Packaging Eco-Friendly?

As shoppers become more environmentally conscious, they are looking for greener packaging options. In a 2020 report by the Pew Charitable Trusts, consumers were asked to choose their preferred packaging material. The study found that 55% of these consumers preferred paper packaging due to its environmental benefits.

As a result, many customers across the globe are starting to favor brands that use environmentally friendly packaging. Using eco-friendly packaging is great for brands for many reasons, including tapping into new environmentally conscious audiences and more importantly, doing your part in helping lessen your impact on the planet.

For this reason, many businesses are turning their backs on single-use plastic packaging and opting for sustainable alternatives such as Paper Tube Packaging.

Paper Tube Packaging fits into our Circular Packaging Framework here at noissue as it's 100% recyclable. It's also made of a renewable material, paper, that provides durability, low oxygen permeability and natural barrier properties for the products encased within them.

This makes it ideal for protecting products like candles or cosmetics from environmental factors such as moisture, oxygen and pests. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why Paper Tube Packaging is a great eco-friendly packaging solution, and why your business should consider making this change.

1. It is one of the best alternatives to plastic packaging

Paper tube packaging is a much better alternative than plastic tube packaging, as its paper material does not contain any of the harmful chemicals that we know come as a result of plastic production. This means it doesn't create any unnecessary waste or health risks when it is disposed of at its end-of-life and exposed to oxygen in the air.

Paper tube packaging is 100% recyclable and can be reused multiple times, preventing new materials from entering circulation for packaging. This adheres to the principles of the circular economy instead of the take-make-dispose model. If no plastic coating or non eco-friendly inks are used, it can be broken down in a compost, helping with carbon-nitrogen ratios.

On the other hand, plastic packaging is often made from a non-renewable resource, petroleum, and can take thousands of years to break down in landfill.

The USDA deems paper tube packaging a renewable resource because paper production uses 25 percent less energy than plastic production.

2. It is recyclable (and biodegradable)


Paper tube packaging is considered eco-friendly because it is recyclable. This means its life extends beyond a single-use as a packaging product as it can be recycled and remade into new products, preventing virgin materials from entering circulation. Paper packaging has the potential to be recycled up to seven times before the fibers become too short to do so.

Recycling is also an easy end-of-life disposal for businesses to communicate to customers. There isn't much education required from a business, as most shoppers know how to recycle thanks to there being good recycling facilities worldwide.

Paper tube packaging is eco-friendly also because it's biodegradable. Plastic can take 1000 years or more to degrade into smaller and smaller pieces, while paper tube packaging has the ability to be biodegradable and break down in much quicker time when added to compost or soil.

When a package is made from paper, it will break down into water and CO2 within six weeks of being put into the ground.

3. It is a sustainable material for shipping

Unlike thicker materials like single-use plastic, paper is a lightweight and flexible material, which makes it easy to transport and store.

When you are paying to transport multiple packages, you ideally want the material to be lightweight and flexible because the lighter your package is, the cheaper your shipping costs will be and the less space your packages will take up during transportation.

This helps keeps costs at a more sustainable level if you're a small business, and this also helps reduce the overall carbon footprint of your business's shipping and delivery. It's a win, win!

4. It has no odor


One of the biggest complaints about plastic is that it has a distinctive smell. This smell is due to a chemical called Melamine which makes plastics stronger, more flexible, and less likely to break. Plastic’s strong odor can hang around for years after it has been disposed of.

Paper tube packaging has no smell because the natural material it is made of does not allow for any. it takes more than 5 years for paper to oxidize and emit an odor, which makes it a long-lasting material.

Paper tubes are made out of plant-based materials that are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable. Paper tubes can be safely used for a multitude of products, such as candles, makeup, hair products, toothpaste, and more.

5. It has a longer shelf life

Due to being made from plant-based instead of man-made materials, paper tubes can last the test of time on the shelf. When they come in contact with moisture, the tube packaging will dry up without any damage being done to the material. Plastic, on the other hand, reacts to moisture and this increases the risk of bacterial growth and mold.

If you're looking to store a perishable product within the tubes like tea or coffee, noissue's Stock Paper Tubes have a foodsafe lining on the inside that's SGS tested and certified. This means they will seal tightly to keep your products fresh!

Wrapping it Up


Paper tube packaging is a great eco-friendly alternative to single-use packaging. It's lightweight and flexible, making it easy and cheaper to transport, and it's 100% recyclable, which makes it an environmentally responsible choice for brands.

noissue's Stock Paper Tubes come in 4 sizes and can be used to store a variety of products, from candles, to cosmetics, to coffee. Ready to get started and make the switch to a great eco-friendly packaging alternative? Find out more information on Stock Paper Tubes, or learn more about how to create paper tube cosmetic packaging.